President of Azerbaijan ends his visit to Ukraine - UPDATED

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23.05.08

20:20

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev took part in the summit on energy security, held in Kiev.

Ukraine and Azerbaijan agreed to supply 470,000 tons of Caspian technological oil for pumping by Odessa-Brody pipeline that will start functioning in the averse mode in 2008.

According to UNIAN, the due announcement was made by Ukrainian President Viktor Yushenko at the final press conference upon completion of the summit on energy security.

The head of the Ukrainian state noted that the sides agreed that two western Ukrinian oil refineries (Nadvirnyan and Drobobich) will process 5 ln tons of Caspian oil per year.

Yushenko also noted that the sides agreed about the experimental pumping of the Caspian oil by the route from Odessa to Brody and further by the Druzhba pipeline to Kralupa (Czechia) city.

"The Odessa-Brody pipeline will start operating in the averse mode when we coordinate volumes of proposal and consumption", said the Ukrainian President.

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18:40

The 4th Energy Security Summit will take place in Baku in November 2008. The Kiev summit will remain in the history as a start of establishing secure energy transit space, said Victor Yushchenko, President of Ukraine at the press conference on the outcomes of the summit on Friday, APA reports.

He said the summit participants made decision on the establishing of joint working group for preparation of basis and principles of transit space within the declaration they signed. The working group will make its first report in the next energy summit to take place in Baku.

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18:05

The due information is provided by Day.Az with reference to the official website of the Ukrainian President.

Thus, by results of their work the energy summit participants signed the Kiev declaration on principles of global energy security, joint declaration on the Caspian-Black-Baltic Sea energy transit space, joint declaration of the Presidents of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine on the project of Eurasian oil transportation corridor.

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13:05

President of Azerbaijan is attending international energy forum in Kiev, Ukraine.

Day.Az reports with reference to AzerTag that on May 22 President of Azerbaijan was named honorary doctor of National Taras Shevchenko University of Kiev in this university.

Opening the ceremony, acting rector of the university, academician Leonid Guberskiy spoke in details about the life and activity of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. He noted that President of Azerbaijan is among the most determined heads of states of the present-day world.

The academician announced that the scientific council of the university decided to name President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev the honorary doctor of the university. He presented the diploma of a honorary doctor and a cloak to the President of Azerbaijan.

Speaking at the ceremony, President Ilham Aliyev noted that he regards the award as an assessment of his activity in the development of Azerbaijani-Ukrainian ties.

The head of state noted that Taras Shevchenko's creative activity is favored in Azerbaijan and the memorial to the great kobza-player will be established in Baku soon.

Speaking about Azerbaijani-Ukrainian relations, President Ilham Aliyev noted that currently the relations are developing intensively. He said the documents, signed during the current visit, will promote expansion of the bilateral cooperation.

The head of state noted that education development in the country is among the priority spheres and Azerbaijan youth studies in the prestigious high schools of the world, including the National Taras Shevchenko University of Kiev. President Ilham Aliyev also spoke of the dynamic development of Azerbaijan and large scale projects, implemented by initiative and participation of the country.

Speaking about the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev announced that the problem should be settled on the basis of norms and principles of international law in the framework of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, IDPs, subjected to ethnic cleansing policy, conducted by Armenia, should return to their homes. The head of state thanked Ukraine for support to the resolution of the UN General Assembly on the situation in the occupied lands of Azerbaijan.

Following the meeting President Ilham Aliyev met and had talks with Azerbaijani students of the university and showed interest in their problems.

The students thanked the head of state for conditions, created for the young generation and said they always try to worthily represent Azerbaijan in other countries. President Ilham Aliyev gave advice to the students and wished them success in education and personal life and took photos with them.

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11:40

Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Timoshenko held talks with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

During the meeting the Ukrainian side was represented by vice prime minister on Eurointegration Grigory Nemirya, Economic Minister Boqdan Danilishin, Minister of Fuel and Energy Yuri Prodan and Minister of Industrial Policy Vladimir Novitski.

According to the Department for contacts with mass media of the Cabinet of Ministers Secretariat, during the meeting the sides discussed cooperation between Ukraine and Azerbaijan in most directions, including energy, humanitarian and other spheres.

Ilham Aliyev invited the Prime Minister of Ukraine to visit Baku. It was decided to prepare documents on possible joint projects to be signed during Timoshenko's visit to Azerbaijan.

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09:43

On Thursday, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met with chairman of Ukraine's Supreme Rada Arseni Yatsenuk.

UNIAN reports with reference to the press service for the Ukrainian parliament that during the meeting the sides discussed issues of bilateral cooperation between Ukraine and Azerbaijan, in particular, prospects of energy cooperation between the two countries.

Both Ilham Aliyev and Arseni Yatsenuk stressed the need to deepen this cooperation. It is noted that Azerbaijan is interested in investment to the Ukrainian energy sector and share experience of work on the energy market, in particular, on modernization of the gas transportation systems.

The chairman of the Ukrainian parliament in turn promised to provide legislative support to energy cooperation between the two countries, in case the countries come to an agreement on the so called oil and gas package. Ilham Aliyev also announced that Azerbaijan is ready and interests in investing funds to the development of Ukrainian agriculture.

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22.V.08

20:54

APA reports that after the meeting the two countries signed agreements on cooperation in various spheres. Following the signing ceremony, the presidents of the two countries held a press conference. President of Ukraine said that the meeting focused on extending the cooperation in the sphere of transport, communications and cosmos.

"One of the important points is that if Azerbaijan launches artificial satellite, the country wants to do it with the help of Ukrainian rocket. This project will be realized in 2010 and we have already reached an agreement on this issue. We also discussed the prospects of energy development. The energy summit held in Kiev makes it available to optimize energy relations policy. Delivering the Caspian oil to the European Union countries is very important for us. We had discussions on Odessa-Brodi pipeline. A joint working group is working on this project. The first report of the group will be ready on July 1 and we will meet with Azerbaijani president and assess these projects," he said.

Victor Yushchenko expressed his gratitude to Azerbaijani government for allotting a site for construction of Ukrainian embassy in Baku and unveiling Taras Shevchenko’s monument.
“We also discussed holding Azerbaijani Ukrainian culture days in September and October and a number of issues on cultural, educational and military-technical cooperation. We highly appreciated the interstate, intergovernmental relations. This status allows us to say – Ukraine and Azerbaijan really have friendship and interstate strategic cooperation. This is our success,” the president said.

Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev said along with his Ukrainian counterpart they discussed the issues that would determine the nature of bilateral relations.

“Close friendship relations were established between Azerbaijan and Ukraine after our country gained its independence and now interstate relations reached a new stage. The documents signed today prove this. We have signed agreement on friendship and partnership between Azerbaijan and Ukraine, the name of this agreement expresses the nature and spirit of the relations between our countries.The Council of Presidents decided to be established and I hope it will be very effective format for determination of priorities of cooperation”.

Azerbaijani leader said both countries are political allies and support each other within the international organizations.

“I express gratitude to Ukraine and personally to President Victor Yushchenko for their support to UN resolution on the occupied territory of Azerbaijan. It is indication of fidelity of Ukrainian leadership to the principles and its friendly relations with Azerbaijan and fair attitude to the settlement of conflicts”.

The president of Azerbaijan underlined the diversification of energy transportation routes to European Union as very important factor.

“We have almost achieved it and today we are working on the next projects, which will enable us to implement our energy capacity fully. We pay attention to the humanitarian cooperation too and I am glad to underline the high level of relations in this field. The opening of the monument of Ukraine’s great son Taras Shevchenko in Baku shows Azerbaijan’s respect to the Ukrainian people and its culture”.

The president of Azerbaijan said he was satisfied with the meetings in Kiev.

“I am sure that we will extend potentials of mutual cooperation in future”.

Then presidents responded to the questions of journalists. Ukrainian president appreciated the prospects of mutual investments in the economies of both countries and said he proposed to Azerbaijani side to make investment in the oil refinery in Ukraine.

“We have already discussed this issue in the level of working groups for the second time. Energy, oil and gas experts were involved in the working groups and we will receive preliminary evaluation of working groups on July 1 and it will be first responds to investment capacities”.

Ukrainian president said there were mutual investment opportunities in the fields of aviation, communication, transport and space expeditions. Azerbaijani president said that both countries had enough economic potential to make investment abroad.

“There are such opportunities, as well as financial resources today. Especially, if the political relations between the countries are in high level, investment in both countries becomes more attractive. Azerbaijan implemented a number of great projects in neighbor countries recently. We are planning to develop our activity in this direction and are interested in the Ukrainian energy sector. We are also interested in the investment of Ukrainian companies in Azerbaijani economy”.

Victor Yushchenko said start of exploration of Odessa-Brodi pipeline was also discussed between the working groups.

“Now they are estimating technically the capacity of pipeline to pump the Caspian oil”.

Azerbaijani president said the volume of Azerbaijani oil to be pumped via Odessa-Brodi pipeline was discussed for long time.

“The issue is getting concrete character now. This project is among the issues discussed in the energy forum in Kiev. Azerbaijan is always supporting the diversification policy. We achieved it basically and today Azerbaijani oil is transported to the Black Sea and Mediterranean regions via three pipelines. New oil terminal was inaugurated in Georgia’s Gulebi City on the Black Sea coast. This terminal was constructed by SOCAR. This is the direct investment of Azerbaijan in Georgia’s economy,” he said.

The president said Azerbaijan’s broader participation in the regional energy projects was also discussed during the talks in Kiev.

“As regards Azerbaijan’s oil, our oil is transported to the Black sea basin and can be used to fill Odessa-Brodi pipeline. But we speak of the cooperation in a broader format. This format covers joint activity in oil production, oil shipment and access to Ukraine’s and other countries’ markets. We view this issue in broader format and I know that Ukraine’s has the same position. Today we are speaking about the energy corridor that will unite the Caspian Sea and Baltic Sea, this is the new regional cooperation element. Caspian Sea – Black Sea – Baltic Sea regional cooperation is a very big format. This project has already received political support, we should only agree on economic and technical details,” the president said.


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18:30

"Ukraine and Azerbaijan have entered the new level of relations"

Day.Az reports with reference to the official website of the Ukrainian President that the due announcement was made by Ukrainian President Viktor Yushenko at the official dinner in the framework of the visit of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to Ukraine.

Speaking of the declaration of friendship and strategic partnership, signed today, the Ukrainian President said: "For Ukrainian side it is important that the relations between our countries have become strategic. This proves that the values and tasks we have defined are not the values of today. This is our plan of actions for future.

On the whole, the President highly assessed prospects of bilateral relations between our countries. The dynamics, including the economic one, proves that we really have unique resources and opportunities for development of our relations", said he.

In turn, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliuev nonoted that Ukraine have become partners since gaining independence.

"This will further continues. The document signed today fixes the format of our relations-friendship and strategic cooperation", said he and noted that this, in particular, implies the active political dialogue and mutual support in international organizations.

I.Aliyev noted that the cooperation between Ukraine and Azerbaijan bases on national interests of our countries. He voiced confidence that in the future the relations will expand and develop for the welfare of the Ukrainian and Azerbaijani peoples.

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17:32

Ukraine and Azerbaijan expect the assessment of the potential of filling of Odessa-Brody pipeline with the Caspian oil in July.

Day.Az reports with reference to the official website of the Ukrainian President that the due announcement was made by Presidents of Ukraine and Azerbaijan Viktor Yushenko and Ilham Aliyev at a joint press conference in Kiev.

"The transportation of the Caspian oil by the Odessa-Brody pipeline is being considered today in the framework of talks and contacts of the work group", said the Ukrainian President.

He announced that the technical parameters are discussed by experts in the framework of the work group, including the calculation of the volumes of the Caspian oil. The first results of its work will be presented in early July. "This issue is studied in the technical dimension", said the Ukrainian President.

According to Ilham Aliyev, today the discussion of this issue is more concrete and it will continue in the framework of the energy summit, held in Kiev.

"There is a political support of all countries, attracted to this project. We have to coordinate economic and technical details, test them and see the results", said he.

President of Azerbaijan confirmed that his country has always supported the policy of export diversification. Ilham Aliyev reminded that a new terminal on the Black Sea shore of Georgia, built owing to Azerbaijani investments, opened several days ago.

"This terminal envisions attraction of the Odessa-Brody-Plotsk-Qdansk project and is thus an integral part of the energy corridor", said he.

Ilham Aliyev also announced that during the talks in Kiev the sides discussed Azerbaijan's participation in this project in a more expanded format. The matter is the possibility of joint actions on oil refining, distribution, access to the markets of Ukraine and neighbor countries with oil products.

"We discuss it in a broad format and I know that Ukraine's position is the same. This project, which should continue in a wide specter of cooperation not only between Ukraine and Azerbaijan but also other countries, attracted to this project. Today, we are speaking about creation of an energy corridor, communicating the Caspian and Baltic Seas. This is a new element of regional cooperation", he concluded.

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17:05

Azerbaijani side signed a number of documents by results of the summit held in Kiev and devoted to issues of energy security.

Ceremony of signing bilateral documents was held in the framework of official visit of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to Ukraine.

Day.Az reports with reference to the official website of the Ukrainian President that the heads of states signed a declaration of friendship and strategic partnership between Ukraine and Azerbaijan.

Viktor Yushenko and Ilham Aliyev also founded the Council of Presidents of Ukraine and Azerbaijan and signed its charter.

Intergovernmental agreements are fixed in five documents:

Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and government of Azerbaijan on cooperation in the sphere of information and information technologies was signed by Minister of Transport and Communications Josef Vinskiy from the Ukrainian side.

Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and Azerbaijani government on cooperation in development of state service was signed by chief of department of Ukrainian state service Timophey Motrenko.

Program of cooperation in the sphere of youth policy and sport between Ukrainian Ministry on family, youth and sport and Azerbaijani Ministry of Youth and Sport for 2008-2009 was signed by Minister on Family, Youth and Sport Yuri Pavlenko.

Protocol of cooperation between the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture and Tourism for 2008-2012 was signed by Minister of culture and tourism Vasily Vovkun from the Ukrainian side.

Memorandum of mutual understanding between the State Commission for securities and securities market of Ukraine and State Committee for Securities under the President of Azerbaijan was signed by chairman of the State Commission for securities and securities market Anatoli Balyuk.

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16:35

"In autumn the European commission will hold the first event aimed at allocating $2.5 bln for reconstruction of Ukrainian gas transportation system".

The due announcement was made by Ukraine President Viktor Yushenko at the opening of the International energy forum in Kiev.

In his speech, Yushenko drew attention to the need for completion of the Odessa-Brody pipeline.

"The completion of the Odessa-Brody pipeline to Plotsk will promote significant progress in ensuring the EU countries with Caspian oil", said he.

Yushenko stressed the need to complete the Odessa-Brody-Plotsk-European Union pipeline to pump Caspian oil to Eastern and Western European countries".

He said three feasibility studies for "the functional project" have been prepared and the fourth feasibility study will be presented at the energy summit on Friday.

Moreover, Yushenko called creation of a complex for deep refining of the Caspian oil on the territory of the country as an important energy project for Ukraine.

Ukraine is interested in the development of the oil refinery, therefore, it suggests to Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan to study possible reconstruction of existing and construction of new oil refineries along the route of the Odessa-Brody pipeline.

The President also stressed need to form an open Baltic-Black-Caspian Sea energy transit community.

"The main purpose of this ambitious political and economic project lies in raising the reliability and transparency of energy supply to Europe, including by ensuring balance of interests between suppliers, transitors and energy sources consumers", said the head of state.

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15:45

Day.Az reports with reference to official website of Ukrainian President that in the one-on-one format the heads of states discussed energy, military and technical and humanitarian cooperation.

In particular, they discussed energy summit in Kiev, which started on May 21. The Presidents also spoke of possible creation of a joint highly technological complex on the Caspian oil refining in Ukraine.

The sides discussed intensification of the military and technical cooperation and training of Azerbaijani militaries in the Ukrainian high schools. Ukrainian side voiced hope for Azerbaijan's support to resolution on 1923-1933 Holodomor in the UN.

President of Ukraine Viktor Yushenko awarded Ilham Aliyev with the first degree order of duke Yaroslav Mudriy.

In line with the decree, the order has been presented for significant personal contribution of Ilham Aliyev to strengthening of Ukrainian-Azerbaijani relations. In turn, Ilham Aliyev presented Heydar Aliyev's order to Yushenko for special contribution to development of friendship and cooperation between the Ukrainian and Azerbaijani peoples.

The awarding ceremony was held in the framework of the official visit of Azerbaijani President to Ukraine.

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14:47

Official meeting of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Ukrainian head of state Viktor Yushenko has been held in Kiev, as reported by official website of the Ukrainian President.

The head of Ukrainian state met his counterpart at the square in front of the Presidential Secretariat.

The military orchestra performed anthems of both countries. The ceremony ended in mutual presentation of official delegations of Ukraine and Azerbaijan.

Following the completion of the meeting chaired by Yushenko and Aliyev, the expanded Ukrainian-Azerbaijani talks will take place. Bilateral documents will be signed by results of talks-in particular, the heads of state will sign a declaration on friendship and strategic partnership between Ukraine and Azerbaijan.

After the signing ceremony the presidents will make declarations and answer questions of mass media representatives.

/Day.Az/, /APA/

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